Workers' Party issues response to National Day Rally

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivers his National Day Rally speech on Aug 18, 2013. The Workers' Party (WP) on Monday said it welcomed many of the measures announced in the National Day Rally, while adding that numerous moves were in line with previous calls from the WP. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

By Goh Chin Lian

The Workers' Party (WP) on Monday said it welcomed many of the measures announced in the National Day Rally, while adding that numerous moves were in line with previous calls from the WP.

The five-paragraph message from party chairman Sylvia Lim said the WP had long advocated for the shift to strengthen social safety nets and boost social mobility announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday.

In much the same way, the party said the revamp of MediShield to become a universal, compulsory insurance scheme and the inclusion of madrasah students in the Edusave scheme were issues previously raised by the WP.

"We had also called for more holistic development of students to cultivate their love for learning rather than grooming them for high-stakes examinations. The changes announced in education represent incremental shifts in this direction," said the party statement.